HU joins Trine in research consortium

Posted: Tuesday, June 19, 2012

The Life Science Education and Research Consortium of Northeast Indiana is forging ahead, with two of the five partner schools already moving forward this fall.

The consortium, which was announced in September 2011, would utilize existing space on Parkview Hospital’s Randallia campus, near downtown Fort Wayne, and serve as a regional initiative to align and leverage education, applied research, business incubation and economic development resources focusing on life sciences and health care. The consortium is committed to generating a world-class center with a focus on rehabilitation, senior care and behavioral health.

While other schools are anticipating a 2013 launch, Huntington University and Trine University will begin their first programs in August.

We are pleased to see the aggressive manner with which Huntington and Trine are moving forward with this initiative and to see that classes will begin in August,” said Steven Brody, project coordinator for the consortium. “We know that residents of northeast Indiana will benefit exponentially from their quality programming, innovative approaches and history of excellence.”

Huntington will start its Master of Arts in counseling and its adult bachelor’s degree programs in human resource management and not-for-profit leadership on August 27. The adult RN to BSN degree program will begin August 28. A TESOL/ESL certificate program will launch later this year. By the fall of 2013, the university also hopes to open a master’s and doctoral-level program in occupational therapy.

“Huntington University is proud to be a part of this joint venture. We firmly believe that by collaborating together our institutions will be stronger, our students’ learning experiences and opportunities will be richer, and our neighborhood, city and region will be more vibrant,” said G. Blair Dowden, Ph.D., president of Huntington University.

Trine will offer new programming that affords students opportunities to pursue bachelor’s degrees in healthcare management, emergency management, biomedical engineering and engineering technology and master’s degrees in leadership in biomedical regulatory affairs, leadership in non-profit management and leadership in healthcare systems studies. The university also plans to launch a doctoral program in physical therapy, its first doctorate program, and a biomechanics and movement sciences research center.

“We are excited, not only to be a part of the consortium, but to give people opportunities to earn meaningful degrees that will enhance their futures and the economic vitality of the community,” said Trine president Earl D. Brooks II, Ph.D. “Universities play a vital role in training quality professionals who will take leadership roles in the healthcare, biomedical and engineering industries. Their leadership will lead to greater regional industrial diversity, job growth and socioeconomic improvements in the area.”

Fort Wayne Community Schools, Ivy Tech Community College-Northeast and the University of Saint Francis are also partners in initiative. The schools signed a memorandum of understanding and Parkview has been working with individual institutions. Huntington and Trine will locate their programs in the main hospital building.